Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's statement on Zimmer allegations

Jan. 20, 2014

Written by

Staff report

The following is the full text of Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno’s statement this morning:

“Mayor Zimmer’s version of our conversation in May of 2013 is not only false but is illogical and does not withstand scrutiny when all of the facts are examined. Any suggestion, any suggestion that Sandy funds were tied to the approval of any project in New Jersey is completely false. Standing in Union Beach as we are today with some of the mayors whose towns were devastated by Sandy and also being a Sandy victim myself makes the mayor’s allegations particularly offensive to me.

“The suggestion that anyone would hold back Sandy relief funds for any reason is wholly and completely false. I thought I had a good relationship with the mayor of Hoboken. In fact just three months after this conversation she said we had occurred I was walking on the streets with her in Hoboken talking to her about urban markets – just three months after this conversation she said we had and five months before she went to MSNBC. Like I said, I thought we had a good relationship.

“Frankly, I’m surprised that Mayor Zimmer has chosen to mischaracterize the conversation I had with her about development and job creation in Hoboken. I have devoted an extraordinary amount of time … to bringing projects, to creating jobs and retaining jobs in Hoboken. That is my job as the secretary of state and lieutenant governor.

“I have visited Hoboken no less than 13 times in those efforts. I have worked on many more projects in Hoboken as part of that job. The example that stands out, the one that the mayor herself asked me to work on for her is the Pearson education building in the skyline on the waterfront in Hoboken.

“The mayor once told me there was an empty hole and she asked me to help her find a company to fill it. And we did. Right now, Pearson education is in the waterfront, on the waterfront. They’ve created hundreds of jobs. They created hundreds of construction jobs. So yes I am very surprised by the mayor’s allegations and I deny wholeheartedly those allegations.

“I proudly support and will continue to support the creation of jobs in Hoboken and all of New Jersey and I will continue to work on those projects. But I’m going to end, and I mean end, by re-emphasizing one thing: I deny any suggestion made by Mayor Zimmer that there was ever any condition placed on the release of Sandy funds by me.

“I want to thank you all for coming out, for giving me the opportunity to speak. I look forward to the inquiries. I am sure, absolutely sure, the facts will come out.”